Brasília, Brazil — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has
arrived in Brasília for a state visit aimed at deepening bilateral ties between
Nigeria and Brazil.
The President, who flew in from Los Angeles, was
received at the Brasília Air Base by senior Brazilian officials, including Ambassador
Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Ambassador
Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s envoy to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Bianca Ojukwu, was also part of the reception team.
Later, ministers, heads of government agencies, and
private sector leaders — who will participate in a series of bilateral talks
and MoU signings — joined in welcoming President Tinubu to his hotel.
Military Honours and Bilateral Talks
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the
official welcoming ceremony, with full military honours, will take place on Monday
at the Planalto Palace.
There, President Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz
Inácio Lula da Silva will hold a private meeting, followed by expanded
bilateral discussions involving senior officials from both sides.
The leaders are expected to witness the signing of
multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and later address a joint press
conference.
Packed Schedule in Brasília
During his visit, President Tinubu will also meet
with:
He will further participate in the Nigeria-Brazil
Business Forum in Brasília on Monday.
Strengthening Historic Ties
Nigeria and Brazil have enjoyed longstanding relations
since the early 1960s. Brazil was the only Latin American country to attend
Nigeria’s independence celebrations in 1960, while Nigeria opened its embassy
in Brasília in 1966.
In recent years, both countries have expanded
cooperation under the Mechanism for Strategic Dialogue, first established in
2013. At the Second Session of the Dialogue in Abuja this June, seven new MoUs
were signed, covering defence, energy, tourism, livestock development,
counter-narcotics, and other sectors.
Brazil also plays a key role in Nigeria’s food
security programme, including a $2.5 billion JBS investment in sustainable
supply chains and the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Programme (GIP), which will
provide 10,000 tractors and 50,000 farm equipment units for local assembly.
Recent Engagements
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu
has pursued stronger ties with Brazil. He attended the G20 Summit in Rio de
Janeiro (2024) and led Nigeria’s delegation to the BRICS Leaders’ Summit (July
2025).
In return, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin
and his wife visited Abuja in June 2025 for the Second Strategic Dialogue
Session.
Foreign ministers of both countries have also
exchanged visits this year, underscoring a growing partnership across trade,
energy, agriculture, and defence.
Comments:
Leave a Reply